Information processing apparatus, method for controlling information processing apparatus, and storage medium

ABSTRACT

An image forming apparatus controls the use of a remote user interface (RUI) by requesting authentication with an RUI access password from a client device in a case where the RUI access password is set. In a case of a department ID management setting, the security setting is different from the RUI access password setting. In this situation, the image forming apparatus requests authentication with the department ID, and then controls the use of the RUI based on the result of the authentication.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/817,060, filed Aug. 3, 2015, which claims the benefit of JapanesePatent Application No. 2014-161623, filed Aug. 7, 2014, both of whichare hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

BACKGROUND Field

Aspects of the present invention generally relate to an informationprocessing apparatus that can be accessed by external devices.

Description of the Related Art

In recent years, with the advancement of imaging forming apparatus, alow-priced image forming apparatus has come to include network functionsas standard. Opportunities of using such apparatus in a networkenvironment have increased not only in large offices but in smalloffices and at home.

A Web browser running on a personal computer (PC) can display, via anetwork, statuses and settings of the image forming apparatus that isconnected to the network. A user interface displayed on the Web browseris called a remote user interface (remote UI or RUI) while a userinterface (UI) equipped in the image forming apparatus is called a localUI (LUI).

While large offices normally assign network administration staff or thelike to implement security measures, the security measures in smalloffices or average households may not be sufficient. In a case where animage forming apparatus without sufficient security control is connectedto the network, since an RUI can be accessed from external access andoperated, a problem such as leakage of confidential information mayoccur.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-178830 discusses atechnique for improving security in which secondary authentication isperformed in addition to a normal one on an account that the accountowner has not accessed for a long time (for example, an account of anemployee on a long business trip or an employee who has left a company).

Image forming apparatuses conventionally have a capability to set apassword that is used in authentication against external access via anetwork. Some image forming apparatuses have an access managementfunction including a mode for setting a department identification (ID)and a password for identifying which department is accessing the imageforming apparatus. In addition to such a function, in the mode of thedepartment ID management, privileges to execute specific functions (forexample, copying, sending a fax, and so on) can be restricted or thenumber of output or transmitted pages can be counted for each departmentID.

In a case where the mode of department ID management is set, an imageforming apparatus can be seen as protected with security measures. Inthis state, imposing additional authentication on the external access isredundant and hence undermines user convenience. Besides, such a problemis not limited to image forming apparatus alone, but exists in variousother information processing apparatus that can communicate withexternal devices.

SUMMARY

Aspects of the present invention generally provide a device formaintaining security of information processing apparatus, includingimage forming apparatus, that can communicate with external deviceswithout hampering user convenience.

According to an aspect of the present invention, an informationprocessing apparatus includes a first setting unit configured to make afirst setting enabling access restriction from an external device, acontrol unit configured to request authentication related to the firstsetting from the external device and to control the access based on aresult of the authentication in a case where the first setting is made,and a second setting unit configured to make a second setting differentfrom the first setting. In a case where the second setting is made, thecontrol unit requests authentication related to the second setting fromthe external device without requesting the authentication related to thefirst setting and controls the access based on a result of theauthentication related to the second setting in case where the secondsetting is made.

Further features and aspects of the present disclosure will becomeapparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments withreference to the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram for illustrating a hardware configuration ofan image forming apparatus according to exemplary embodiments.

FIG. 2 illustrates transition of screens of an RUI during normalauthentication according to a first exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 3 illustrates transition of screens of an RUI when an RUI accesspassword is entered according to the first exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 4 illustrates transition of screens of an RUI when department IDmanagement setting is set according to the first exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an exemplary flowchart for depicting a process for displayingan RUI authentication screen according to the first exemplaryembodiment.

FIG. 6 is a table for describing a relation between settings of theimage forming apparatus and authentication screens of an RUI accordingto the first exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 7 illustrates exemplary setting screens according to the firstexemplary embodiment.

FIG. 8 is an exemplary flowchart for depicting a process for displayingan RUI authentication screen according to a second exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a table for describing a relation between settings of theimage forming apparatus and authentication screens of an RUI accordingto the second exemplary embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Described now will be exemplary embodiments with reference to theaccompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram for illustrating a hardware configuration ofan image forming apparatus 100 according to an exemplary embodiment.Each block refers to a module and an arrow between blocks indicates aflow of data or a flow of instruction.

As shown in FIG. 1, an image forming apparatus 100 is a multifunctionperipheral (MFP) that includes a printing section 107, a scanningsection 109, a control panel 110, a line interface (I/F) 112, and acontroller section 101 for controlling these sections. The image formingapparatus 100 is not limited to MFP, but can be a printer, a scanner, afacsimile machine or the like.

The controller section 101 includes a CPU 102, a RAM 103, a ROM 104, aprinting section I/F 106, a scanning section I/F 108, a MODEM 111, aUSB-D I/F 115, a network I/F 118, and a USB-H I/F 122, and each block isconnected each other via a system bus 105.

The CPU 102 controls each of the blocks as a whole by executing variouscontrol programs. The CPU 102 executes the various control programs thatare stored in a program area of the ROM 104 and are read out by the CPU102. The various control programs may be compressed data stored in theprogram area of the ROM 104. The compressed data are transferred to theRAM 103, decompressed, and executed by the CPU 102. Further, the variouscontrol programs may be stored in a not-shown hard disk drive (HDD) in acompressed or not-compressed state.

The network I/F 118 performs processing for communication with a hostcomputer via a network (LAN) 120. The host computer 121 is representedby PC in FIG. 1 and hereinafter referred to as a PC. The network I/F 118is coupled to the network 120 by a communication cable such as a LANcable 119. The PC 121 can be connected to the image forming apparatus100 by a USB cable 116 via the USB-D I/F 115 as well. The network 120may be a wireless network.

In addition, a Web browser 121 a is operable in the PC 121 and the imageforming apparatus 100 is accessible from the PC 121 by using the Webbrowser 121 a or the like. The PC 121 is not limited to a personalcomputer but may be a tablet computer, a smart phone, or a similardevice. A client program other than the Web browser 121 a may be used toaccess the image forming apparatus 100 from the PC 121. An informationprocessing apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment will bedescribed based on a configuration in which the image forming apparatus100 is accessed from the PC 121 by using the Web browser 121 a. Theinformation processing apparatus, however, is not limited to thisconfiguration.

The MODEM 111, which is connected to a public telephone network 114 viathe line I/F 112, performs processing for communication with anotherimage forming apparatus, a facsimile machine, a telephone, etc. The lineI/F 112 and the public telephone network 114 are coupled generally witha telephone line 113.

The USB-H I/F 122 is directly connected to an external storage 123.

The printing section I/F 106 is an interface for outputting imagesignals to the printing section 107 (printer engine). Further, thereading section I/F 108 is an interface for inputting readout imagesignals from the reading section 109 (scanner engine). The CPU 102processes the input image signals from the reading I/F 108 and outputsthem as recorded image signals to the printing I/F 106.

The CPU 102 displays characters and symbols using font information thatare stored in a font area of the ROM 104 onto a display area of thecontrol panel 110. The CPU 102 also receives instructions from thecontrol panel 110 that a user operates.

Furthermore, the CPU 102 stores, in a data area of the ROM 104, deviceinformation of the image forming apparatus 100, information of usertelephone directory, department management information, and otherinformation. The CPU 102 reads out and updates the stored informationwhen necessary.

The image forming apparatus 100 is configured to include the readingsection 109 and the printing section 107 inside thereof as shown in theblock diagram. The image forming apparatus 110, however, may beconfigured to include one or both of these sections outside thereof.

The image forming apparatus 100 can provide a user interface, i.e., aremote user interface (RUI), which is usable from an external devicesuch as a PC 121. A user can access the image forming apparatus 100 fromthe Web browser 121 a on the PC 121 via a network and can browse andchange settings of the image forming apparatus 100 by using an RUI ofthe image forming apparatus 100.

Referring to FIGS. 2 to 4, transition of screens of an RUI according tothe first exemplary embodiment will be illustrated below. Anauthentication screen appears when an RUI access password and adepartment ID management setting are not made. The authentication screenis hereafter referred to as a normal authentication screen 202.

FIG. 2 shows transition of screens of an RUI during normalauthentication according to the first exemplary embodiment.

When an RUI access password and a department ID management setting arenot set, if the PC 121 accesses the image forming apparatus 100, thenthe normal authentication screen 202 appears on a display of the PC 121.A user 201 selects either an administrator mode or a standard user modeas a log-in mode by operating a radio button 202 a on the normalauthentication screen 202 that is displayed on the display of the PC 121by the Web browser 121 a or the like running on the PC 121. The user 201then presses a log-in button 202 d.

If the log-in mode that is selected with the radio button 202 a is theadministrator mode, an administrator ID and an administrator passwordmust be properly entered in an administrator ID entry field 202 b and anadministrator password entry field 202 c respectively. In contrast, ifthe log-in mode is the standard user mode, there will be no furtherauthentication required. In this case, it is not necessary to enter theadministrator ID in the administrator ID entry field 202 b and theadministrator password in the administrator password entry field 202 c.

When the authentication is properly processed in the normalauthentication careen 202, a top screen 203 of an RUI will be displayed(i.e., screen transitions), which will enable the user 201 to access theRUI.

FIG. 3 illustrates transition of screens of an RUI when an RUI accesspassword is entered according to the first exemplary embodiment. In FIG.3, the same reference numerals are used for the items that are identicalto those in FIG. 2 with no further description.

In a case where external accesses are restricted, when a user 201accesses the image forming apparatus 100 from the PC 121, an RUI accesspassword input screen 301 appears on the display of the PC 121. The RUIaccess password input screen 301 is a screen for performingauthentication with the RUI access password (RUI access authenticationscreen).

A user 201 enters a preset password into an RUI access password entryfield 301 a on the RUI access password input screen 301 that isdisplayed on the display of the PC 121 by the Web browser 121 a or thelike running on the PC 121. The user 201 then press an OK button 301 b.If the entered RUI access password is correct, the normal authenticationscreen 202 will appear (i.e., screen transitions) and, with the samesequence as described with FIG. 2, the RUI top screen 203 will bedisplayed, which will enable the user 201 to access RUI.

FIG. 4 illustrates transition of screens of RUI when department IDmanagement setting is set according to the first exemplary embodiment.In FIG. 4, the same reference numerals are used for the items that areidentical to those in FIG. 2 with no further description.

In a case where the department ID management setting is made, if a user201 accesses the image forming apparatus 100 from the PC 121, adepartment ID management authentication screen 401 appears on thedisplay of the PC 121.

A user 201 enters a department ID and a department password, which areallocated to the department in which the user 201 is registered, into adepartment ID entry field 401 a and a department password entry field401 b respectively on the department ID management authentication screen401. The authentication screen 401 is displayed on the display of the PC121 by the Web browser 121 a or the like running on the PC 121. The user201 then presses a log-in button 401 c. If the entered department ID anddepartment password are correct, the RUI top screen 203 will appear(i.e., screen transitions), which will enable the user 201 to access theRUI.

FIG. 5 is an exemplary flowchart for depicting a process for displayingan RUI authentication screen according to the first exemplaryembodiment. The CPU 102 is to implement each step of the flowchart byreading out and executing programs stored in the ROM 104.

When the image forming apparatus 100 receives a remote access requestsent by the Web browser 121 a that is running on the PC 121, the CPU 102starts processing according to the flowchart. In the flowchart, aprocess which expressly indicates no operating entity is carried out bythe CPU 102.

Now in step S501, the CPU 102 confirms whether the use of the RUI itselfis permitted. If it is determined in the mentioned step S501 that theuse of the RUI is not permitted (i.e., RUI-permission setting in FIGS. 6and 7 is OFF, which will be described later), the CPU 102 advances theprocessing to step S502 (in case of NO in step S501).

In step S502, the CPU 102 controls the processing to display anRUI-not-usable screen (i.e., a not-shown message screen to inform thatthe use of the RUI is not permitted). More particularly, the CPU 102transmits display data of the RUI-not-usable screen to the Web browser121 a that is running on the PC 121. The Web browser 121 a displays,based on the received display data, the RUI-not-usable screen on thedisplay of the PC 121. Upon completing the processing in step S502, theCPU 102 ends the process.

If it is determined in step S501 that the use of the RUI is permitted(i.e., RUI-permission setting is ON), the CPU 102 advances theprocessing to step S503 (i.e., in case of YES in step S501).

In step S503, the CPU 102 determines whether the department IDmanagement setting is set. If it is determined that the department IDmanagement setting is not set (i.e., the department ID managementsetting in FIGS. 6 and 7 is OFF, which will be described later), the CPU102 advances the processing to step S504 (i.e., in case of NO in stepS503).

In step S504, the CPU 102 determines whether an RUI access password isset. If it is determined that the RUI access password is set (i.e., theRUI access password setting in FIGS. 6 and 7 is set ON, which will bedescribed later), the CPU 102 advances the processing to step S505(i.e., in case of YES in step S504).

In step S505, the CPU 102 controls the processing to display an RUIaccess password input screen 301. More particularly, the CPU 102transmits display data of the RUI access password input screen 301 tothe Web browser 121 a running on the PC 121. When the Web browser 121 areceives the display data, the Web browser 121 a displays, based on thedisplay data, the RUI access password input screen 301 on the display ofthe PC 121.

When the CPU 102 receives, from the Web browser 121 a running on the PC121, an RUI access password that the user 201 has entered on the RUIaccess password input screen 301, the CPU 102 advances the processing tostep S506.

In step S506, the CPU 102 determines whether the RUI access passwordthat the user 201 has entered is correct (i.e., the entered passwordagrees with the RUI access password previously registered). In otherwords, the CPU 102 performs authentication processing with the RUIaccess password and checks the authentication result.

If the CPU 102 determines that the RUI access password that the user 201has entered is not correct (i.e., NO in step S506), the CPU 102 controlsthe processing to display the RUI access password input screen 301 again(in step S505).

If the CPU 102 determines, in step S506, that the RUI access passwordthat the user 201 has entered is correct (i.e., YES in the step S506),the CPU 102 advances the processing to step S507.

In step S507, the CPU 102 controls the processing to display the normalauthentication screen 202. More particularly, the CPU 102 transmitsdisplay data of the normal authentication screen 202 to the Web browser121 a that is running on the PC 121. When the Web browser 121 a receivesthe display data, the Web browser 121 a displays, based on the displaydata, the normal authentication screen 202 on the display of the PC 121.

The CPU 102 also controls the processing to display the normalauthentication screen 202 (in step S507), in a case where the CPU 102determines, in step S504, that the RUI access password is not set (i.e.,the RUI access password setting is OFF; in case of NO in step S504).

When the CPU 102 receives, from the Web browser 121 a running on the PC121, information including a log-in mode that the user 201 has selectedin the normal authentication screen 202, the CPU 102 advances theprocessing to step S508.

In step S508, the CPU 102 determines whether the log-in mode that theuser 201 has selected is the administrator mode (i.e., the user 201 haslogged in the administrator mode).

If the CPU 102 determines that the log-in mode that the user 201 hasselected is the administrator mode (i.e., the user 201 has logged inwith the administrator mode), the CPU 102 advances the processing tostep S509 (i.e., in case of YES in S508).

In step S509, the CPU 102 performs authentication processing for theadministrator mode based on an administrator ID and an administratorauthentication password that have been received along with theinformation on the log-in mode. The CPU subsequently determines theauthentication result.

If the CPU 102 determines that the authentication fails (i.e., NO inS509), the CPU 102 controls the processing to display the normalauthentication screen 202 again (in step S507).

If the CPU 102 determines that the authentication is successful (i.e.,authentication is OK), the CPU 102 controls the processing to displaythe RUI top screen 203 (i.e., in case of YES in step S509). Moreparticularly, the CPU 102 transmits display data of the RUI top screen203 to the Web browser 121 a that is running on the PC 121. When the Webbrowser 121 a receives the display data, the Web browser 121 a displays,based on the display data, the RUI top screen 203 on the display of thePC 121.

If the CPU 102 determines that the log-in mode that the user 201 hasselected in step S508 is the standard user mode (i.e., in case of NO instep S508), the CPU 102 controls the processing to display the RUI topscreen 203 without performing authentication (in step S510).

If the CPU 102 determines, in step S503, that the department IDmanagement setting is set (i.e., the department ID management setting isON), the CPU 102 advances the processing to step S511 (i.e., in case ofYES in step S503). In step S511, the CPU 102 controls the processing todisplay the department ID management authentication screen 401. Moreparticularly, the CPU 102 transmits display data of the department IDmanagement authentication screen 401 to the Web browser 121 a that isrunning on the PC 121. When the Web browser 121 a receives the displaydata, the Web browser 121 a displays, based on the display data, thedepartment ID management authentication screen 401 on the display of thePC 121.

When the CPU 102 receives, from the Web browser 121 a running on the PC121, a department ID and a password that the user 201 has entered in thedepartment ID management authentication screen 401, the CPU 102 advancesthe processing to step S512.

In step S512, the CPU 102 performs authentication processing with thedepartment ID and the password that the user 201 has entered anddetermines the authentication result.

If the CPU 102 determines that the authentication has failed (i.e., NOin S512), the CPU 102 controls the processing to display the departmentID management authentication screen 401 again (in step S511).

If the CPU 102 determines that the authentication is successful (i.e.,authentication is OK), the CPU 102 controls the processing to displaythe RUI top screen 203 in step S510 (i.e., in case of YES in step S512).Upon completing the processing in step S510, the CPU 102 ends theprocess.

FIG. 6 is a table for depicting a relationship between settings of theimage forming apparatus and displayed authentication screens of the RUIaccording to the first exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 7 shows exemplary setting screens for RUI-permission setting,department ID management setting, and RUI access password settingaccording to the first exemplary embodiment.

Whether it is permitted to use an RUI is set in an RUI-permissionsetting screen 700 by selecting ON/OFF of a radio button 700 a.

Whether the department ID management is implemented is set in adepartment ID management setting screen 701 by selecting ON/OFF of aradio button 701 a. In a case where the department ID management settingis set, the CPU 102 manages authentication to permit each individualdepartment (i.e., individual user group) to access the image formingapparatus 100.

Whether access to an RUI is to be restricted is set by selecting ON/OFFof a radio button 702 a on a security setting screen 702. In an RUIaccess password entry field 702 b, an RUI access password is set whenRUI access restriction is set on the security setting screen 702.

Thus, the use of an RUI can be restricted in the security setting screen702 by means of password information (i.e., the RUI access password setin 702 a).

The values that are set in the RUI-permission setting screen 700, thedepartment ID management setting screen 701, and the security settingscreen 702 are stored in the data area of the ROM 104 under the controlof the CPU 102. The ROM 104 consists of flash ROMs in which data can beoverwritten.

Further, the RUI-permission setting screen 700, the department IDmanagement setting screen 701, and the security setting screen 702 arealso displayed in a display area of the control panel 110 under thecontrol of the CPU 102. In the example illustrated in FIG. 7, radiobuttons (700 a, 701 a, 702 a) are used to select presence ornon-presence of permission, restriction, and management, on theRUI-permission setting screen 700, the department ID management settingscreen 701, and the security setting screen 702. Other selectionmethods, such as dropdown lists, can be used in place of the radiobuttons.

Returning to FIG. 6, when the RUI-permission setting is OFF, theRUI-access-prohibited screen is displayed on the display of the PC 121and access from the PC 121 is prohibited, regardless of ON/OFF of thedepartment ID management setting and the RUI access password setting.Further, when the RUI-permission setting is ON, if the department IDmanagement setting is ON, the department ID management authenticationscreen 401 is displayed on the display of the PC 121, and access from PC121 is controlled and permitted with the authentication using adepartment ID and a department password, regardless of ON/OFF of the RUIaccess password setting.

When the RUI-permission setting is ON and the department ID managementsetting is ON, if the RUI access password setting is ON, the RUI accesspassword input screen 301 is displayed on the display of the PC 121, andthe access from PC 121 is controlled and permitted using theauthentication with the RUI access password.

Further, when the RUI-permission setting is ON and the department IDmanagement setting is OFF, if the RUI access password setting is OFF,the normal authentication screen 202 is displayed on the display of thePC 121.

As shown in FIG. 6, if the department ID management is set ON on thedepartment ID management setting screen 701, the RUI access passwordinput screen 301 is not displayed at the time of a remote access requestregardless of the RUI access restriction setting, according to the firstexemplary embodiment. Therefore, if the department ID management is ON,the RUI access restriction setting and the entry of RUI access passwordon the security setting screen 702 are not applicable. Accordingly, theRUI access restriction setting and the RUI access password entry fieldscan be grayed out under the control of the CPU 102 to prevent user'sentry.

In the same way, if the RUI-permission setting is OFF on theRUI-permission setting screen 700, the RUI access restriction settingand the RUI access password entry fields may be grayed out under thecontrol of the CPU 102 to prevent user's entry.

As explained in the foregoing, if an image forming apparatus accordingto the first exemplary embodiment is configured such that access to theimage forming apparatus via a network is enabled with authenticationusing an external access password (i.e., RUI access password) in a casewhere the external access password is set, and if such an image formingapparatus operates in a mode in which the department ID management isset (i.e., department ID management is ON), access via a network isenabled with authentication using a department ID and a departmentpassword registered in the department ID management without furtherauthentication using the external access password regardless of ON/OFFof the external access password setting. Accordingly, when a securitymeasure (e.g., the department ID management setting) other thanauthentication using an external access password is implemented,redundancy of further authentication with such external access passwordthat will be imposed on a user can be eliminated. Consequently, an imageforming apparatus that can maintain security without hampering userconvenience is provided.

In the first exemplary embodiment described above, whether access to anRUI is restricted is controlled by ON/OFF of the RUI access passwordsetting in a case where the department ID management setting is not madein the image forming apparatus 100. Alternatively, in a case where asystem administrator's privileges are properly set, a user having usermode privileges can access an RUI but cannot change settings of theimage forming apparatus 100 and therefore it is not likely to cause aproblem. Accordingly, whether access to an RUI is restricted may beconfigured to depend on ON/OFF of the system administrator setting. Thisconfiguration will be further explained in a second exemplary embodimenthereafter by only describing differences between the first and thesecond exemplary embodiments.

FIG. 8 is an exemplary flowchart for depicting a process for displayingan RUI authentication screen according to the second exemplaryembodiment. The CPU 102 implements each step of the flowchart by readingout and executing programs stored in the ROM 104.

When the image forming apparatus 100 receives a remote access requestsent by the Web browser 121 a that is running on the PC 121, the CPU 102starts processing according to the flowchart. In the flowchart, aprocess that does not expressly indicate its operating entity isimplemented by the CPU 102.

Steps S801 to S803 and steps S809 to S810 are the same as steps S501 toS503 and steps S511 to S512 in FIG. 5 respectively, therefore adescription of which will not be repeated.

In step S803, however, if it is determined that the department IDmanagement setting is not set (i.e., NO in step S803), the CPU 102advances the processing to step S804.

In step S804, the CPU 102 determines whether a system administratorsetting is made. The system administrator setting is a setting whereby aspecific user or department (i.e., a user group) is designated as anadministrator and given administrator privileges over the image formingapparatus 100. The administrator privileges, for example, enable alltypes of access to the image forming apparatus 100.

If the CPU 102 determines that the system administrator is notdesignated (i.e., the system administrator setting is OFF in FIG. 9,which will be described later; (NO in S804)), the CPU 102 controls theprocessing to display an RUI-not-usable screen in step S802 (a messagescreen (not illustrated) to inform that the use of the RUI is notpermitted). Step S802 is the same as step S502 in FIG. 5, therefore adescription of which will not be repeated.

On the other hand, if the CPU 102 determines that the systemadministrator is designated (i.e., the system administrator setting isON) in step S804 (YES in step S804), the CPU 102 advances the processingto steps S805 to S808. Steps S805 to S808 are the same as steps S507 toS510 in FIG. 5, therefore a description of which will not be repeated.

FIG. 9 is a table for depicting a relationship between settings of theimage forming apparatus and displayed authentication screens of an RUIaccording to the second exemplary embodiment. Only differences from FIG.6 shown in the first exemplary embodiment will be described.

The same cases that are the same as in the first exemplary embodimentare the RUI-permission setting is OFF and that the RUI-permissionsetting is ON and the department ID management setting is ON. Therefore,description on this will not be repeated.

When the RUI-permission setting is ON and the department ID managementsetting is OFF, if the system administrator setting is ON, then thenormal authentication screen 202 is displayed on the display of the PC121. When the RUI-permission setting is ON and the department IDmanagement setting is OFF, if the system administrator setting is OFF,then the RUI-access-prohibited screen is displayed on the display of thePC 121 and access from the PC 121 is prohibited.

As explained in the foregoing, an image forming apparatus according tothe second exemplary embodiment is configured such that access to an RUIvia a network is enabled when the system administrator setting is set,and access to an RUI via a network is disabled when the systemadministrator setting is not set, and that if such image formingapparatus operates in a mode in which the department ID management isset (i.e., department ID management setting is ON), access via a networkis enabled with authentication using a department ID and a departmentpassword registered in the department ID management, without furtherauthentication using an administrator ID and an administrator passwordof the system administrator, regardless of ON/OFF of the systemadministrator setting. Accordingly, when a security measure (e.g., thedepartment ID management setting) other than authentication with anadministrator ID is implemented, redundancy of further authenticationusing such administrator ID and administrator password which will beimposed on a user can be eliminated. Consequently, an image formingapparatus that can maintain security without hampering user convenienceis provided.

In the foregoing, the authentication setting (the department IDmanagement setting) for controlling access by each individual user groupto the image forming apparatus 100 is implemented as a security measureother than the authentication with the RUI access password in the firstexemplary embodiment or the authentication with the administratorauthentication information in the second exemplary embodiment. However,the security measure other than the authentication with the RUI accesspassword or the administrator authentication with the authenticationinformation is not limited to such an exemplary embodiment.

For example, there may be a case in which authentication setting is madeso as to control access by each individual to the image formingapparatus 100 (user ID management setting). When there is an RUI-accessrequest from a PC 121 in a state that the user ID management setting isset, the CPU 102 controls the processing to display a user ID managementauthentication screen that requests a user ID and a user ID passwordfrom a user. More particularly, the CPU 102 transmits display data ofthe user ID management authentication screen to the Web browser 121 athat is running on the PC 121. When the Web browser 121 a receives thedisplay data, the Web browser 121 a displays, based on the display data,the user ID management authentication screen on the display of the PC121. When the CPU 102 receives a user ID and a password that the userhas entered on the user ID management authentication screen, the CPU 102performs authentication processing with the user ID and the password. Ifthe CPU 102 determines that the authentication fails, the CPU 102controls the processing to display the user ID management authenticationscreen again. On the other hand, if the CPU 102 determines that theauthentication is successful (i.e., authentication is OK), the CPU 102controls the processing to display the RUI top screen 203.

In addition, the RUI of the image forming apparatus 100 in eachexemplary embodiment described above may be accessible from the PC 121via a network 120 or via an interface, such as a USB cable 116, otherthan the network 120.

Further, the access control has been described in a case where the imageforming apparatus 100 in each of above-described exemplary embodimentsprovides a user interface (RUI) that is usable by an external devicesuch as the PC 121. The access control may be applied to any accessother than an RUI as long as it is an access to a function that theimage forming apparatus 100 can provide.

Still further, aspects of the present invention have been described inrelation to an image forming apparatus that is accessible from externaldevices including the PC 121. Aspects of the present invention, however,are not limited to the image forming apparatus but may apply to aninformation processing apparatus other than the image forming apparatussuch as personal computers, networked home appliances and so forth.Aspects of the present invention can apply to any information processingapparatus as long as it can provide functions that are usable andaccessible from external devices.

As has been described in the foregoing, when a security measure (e.g.,the department ID management setting) other than authentication with anaccess password or an administrator password is implemented, theabove-described configuration will eliminate redundancy of furtherauthentication with the access password or the administrator passwordwhich is imposed on a user. Accordingly, an image forming apparatus andthe like that can maintain security without hampering user conveniencecan be provided. Consequently, according to aspects of the presentinvention, security of information processing apparatus including imageforming apparatus that are accessible via a network can be maintainedwithout hampering user convenience.

Other Embodiments

Additional embodiment(s) can also be realized by a computer of a systemor apparatus that reads out and executes computer executableinstructions (e.g., one or more programs) recorded on a storage medium(which may also be referred to more fully as a ‘non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium’) to perform the functions of one ormore of the above-described embodiment(s) and/or that includes one ormore circuits (e.g., application specific integrated circuit (ASIC)) forperforming the functions of one or more of the above-describedembodiment(s), and by a method performed by the computer of the systemor apparatus by, for example, reading out and executing the computerexecutable instructions from the storage medium to perform the functionsof one or more of the above-described embodiment(s) and/or controllingthe one or more circuits to perform the functions of one or more of theabove-described embodiment(s). The computer may comprise one or moreprocessors (e.g., central processing unit (CPU), micro processing unit(MPU)) and may include a network of separate computers or separateprocessors to read out and execute the computer executable instructions.The computer executable instructions may be provided to the computer,for example, from a network or the storage medium. The storage mediummay include, for example, one or more of a hard disk, a random-accessmemory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), a storage of distributedcomputing systems, an optical disk (such as a compact disc (CD), digitalversatile disc (DVD), or Blu-ray Disc (BD)™, a flash memory device, amemory card, and the like.

While the present disclosure has been described with reference toexemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that these exemplaryembodiments are not seen to be limiting. The scope of the followingclaims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompassall such modifications and equivalent structures and functions.

What is claimed is:
 1. An image processing apparatus having a functionof providing web contents including at least status information on theimage processing apparatus to an external apparatus via a network, theimage processing apparatus comprising: at least one hardware processorwhich acts as: a setting unit configured to set whether to use adepartment management function of identifying a department that uses aresource of the image processing apparatus; an access control unitconfigured to control, on a condition at least that the setting unitdoes not set to use the department management function, accessrestriction to the web contents using a password to access the webcontents, and control, on a condition that the setting unit does not setto use the department management function, the access restriction to theweb contents not based on the password but based on information aboutthe department management function; and a providing unit configured toprovide the web contents including at least status information to theexternal apparatus on a condition at least that the control unit haspermitted an access to the web contents.
 2. The image processingapparatus according to claim 1, wherein on a condition that to use thedepartment management function is set, different authority to execute animage processing function of the image processing apparatus isassignable to each department identified based on at least a departmentidentification for identifying a department, and a number of times ofusing the image processing function is counted for each identifieddepartment.
 3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the at least one hardware processor further acts as: a secondsetting unit configured to set password information for executing accessrestriction to the web contents, wherein the password information has nodependency relation with information for identifying a user and adepartment that use a resource of the image processing apparatus.
 4. Theimage processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the at leastone hardware processor further acts as: a third setting unit configuredto set whether to perform the access restriction to the web contentswith the password, wherein the access control unit performs control sothat the access to the web contents is permitted without requesting theexternal apparatus to provide an input regarding an access control, on acondition at least that the setting unit does not set to use thedepartment management function and that the third setting unit does notset to perform the access restriction to the web contents with thepassword.
 5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 4,wherein the at least one hardware processor further acts as: a fourthsetting unit configured to set whether to provide the web contents,wherein, on a condition that the fourth setting unit does not set toprovide the web contents, the access control unit further performscontrol so that an access to the web contents is prohibited even in acase where a request for the web contents has been received from theexternal apparatus.
 6. The image processing apparatus according to claim5, wherein, in a case where the access control unit performs control sothat the access to the web contents is prohibited, the providing unitprovides information indicating an error to the external apparatus inplace of the web contents.
 7. The image processing apparatus accordingto claim 1, wherein on a condition that the setting unit does not set touse the department management function, the control unit requests theexternal apparatus that has requested the web contents, to input apassword for accessing the web contents, and controls whether to permitaccess to the web contents based on whether the password received fromthe external apparatus matches the password information for executingaccess restriction to the web contents, and on a condition that thesetting unit does not set to use the department management function, thecontrol unit request the external apparatus that has requested the webcontents to input authentication information on the departmentmanagement function without requesting the external apparatus to inputthe password for accessing the web contents, and control whether topermit access to the web contents including the status information basedon the authentication information received from the external apparatus,wherein the received authentication information includes at least adepartment identification.
 8. The image processing apparatus accordingto claim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus is a printer.
 9. Theimage processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the webcontents include information indicating at least a remaining amount oftoner of the image processing apparatus.
 10. The image processingapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the providing unit is capable ofproviding a plurality of web contents to the external apparatus, and aweb content provided on a condition that the access control unit haspermitted the access to the web contents corresponds to a top screen.11. A method for an image processing apparatus having a function ofproviding web contents including at least status information on theimage processing apparatus to an external apparatus via a network, themethod comprising: setting whether to use a department managementfunction of identifying a department that uses a resource of the imageprocessing apparatus; controlling, on a condition at least that thesetting does not set to use the department management function, accessrestriction to the web contents using a password to access the webcontents, and controlling, on a condition that the setting does not setto use the department management function, the access restriction to theweb contents not based on the password but based on information aboutthe department management function; and providing the web contentsincluding at least status information to the external apparatus on acondition at least that the controlling has permitted an access to theweb contents.
 12. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storingcomputer executable instructions, which when executed by a computer ofan image processing apparatus having a function of providing webcontents including at least status information on the image processingapparatus to an external apparatus via a network, cause the imageprocessing apparatus to perform operations comprising: setting whetherto use a department management function of identifying a department thatuses a resource of the image processing apparatus; controlling, on acondition at least that the setting does not set to use the departmentmanagement function, access restriction to the web contents using apassword to access the web contents, and controlling, on a conditionthat the setting does not set to use the department management function,the access restriction to the web contents not based on the password butbased on information about the department management function; andproviding the web contents including at least status information to theexternal apparatus on a condition at least that the controlling haspermitted an access to the web contents.
 13. An image processingapparatus having a function of providing web contents including at leaststatus information on the image processing apparatus to an externalapparatus via a network, the image processing apparatus comprising: atleast one hardware processor which acts as: a setting unit configured toset whether to use a department management function of identifying adepartment that uses a resource of the image processing apparatus; anaccess control unit configured to control, on a condition at least thatthe setting unit does not set to use the department management function,access restriction to the web contents using a predetermined password,and control, on a condition that the setting unit sets to use thedepartment management function, the access restriction to the webcontents based on a department identification and a password to be usedwith the department management function; and a providing unit configuredto provide the web contents including at least status information to theexternal apparatus on a condition at least that the control unit haspermitted the access to the web contents.